Direction-indicator



H. N. McCLURE.

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED umz, 1920.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

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DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1920.

1 ,387,79 1 nt Aug- 16, 1921.

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UNITED STATES RODNEY N. MCCLURE, OF LOS .ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION-INDICATOR.

Application filed January 2, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RODNEY N. lWIoCLnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Direction-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal and display apparatus, and while it relates particularly to apparatus for indicating direction of travel and control of a motor vehicle it may also be utilized in the display of signs of various other character, and has for its object to provide an organization with a plurality of signs that can be selectively presented for display or exhibiting position from a remote point of control, and further to provide means for temporarily locking one of the selected signals in the displaying position, and to provide automatic means for releasing the thus locked display or signal member so that it may be returned to its normal or concealed position, and has other objects that will be rendered manifest in the following specification. The invention consists of the construction, the combination and in details and arrangements of the parts an embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described and claimed herein.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile to which the invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of Fig. 1 showing one position of mounting the signal.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective illustrating the complete organization as associated with certain parts of a vehicle.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the signal forming part of the device.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4: showing the signal members all in contracted or non-displaying position.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing one of the signal members in exhibiting position.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing a form of actuating and setting means for the semaphore or display members.

Fig. 9 is a detail, longitudinal. central section through the rocker shaft of the setting mechanism partly broken away to indicate indefinite length.

Fig. 10 is a plan view looking at the upper end of Fig. 9 as shown by the arrow.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

Serial No. 348,970.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the setting and releasing mechanism looking up with respect to Fig. 8.

, Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the tripping or releasing device.

Fig. 13 is a detail view showing one of the setting levers of the selecting mechanism in locked or retaining position.

The embodiment of the invention, in the present case. is shown as adapted to be used in combination with an automobile for the purpose of indicating an intended direction of turn of the vehicle and also for indicating the intention of the operator to slow down or stop the same, but it is understood that the display mechanism may be utilized for various other purposes with such suitable indicating media and signals as may be appropriate to the end to be accomplished.

The invention is illustrated as comprising a housing, box or casing 2 of suitable mate rial, shape, construction and design, preferably, of such proportions as to present a neat and ornamental appearance especially when the device is to be utilized as a signal apparatus in automobiles, the casing being adapted to be mounted at any suitable or convenient point or location upon the body of an automobile when used as a signal apparatus thereon, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is preferably mounted on the rear end left mud guard or fender so as to be visible with most efficiency from the front left side and rear. The case 2 may have a glass top.

Within the box or casing 2 there is suitably mounted a plurality of signal or display members in the form of sheets or plates 8-3, here shown as substantially rectangular in form and as vertically slidable in suitable guides in the form of vertical channels 44 arranged on parallel spaced partitions or walls of the casing 2, the several display plates 3 being disposed in sufliciently close juxtaposition to provide a compact structure and yet permit an efficient illumination of the faces of the members 3-3 as from an electric light bulb 5 that may be mounted in the bottom of the casing 2 and above a reflector 6 by which the light rays are thrown upwardly so as to play on both faces of each of the signal members 3. It is preferred that the opposite faces of the members 33 each be provided with a suitable display or signal medium, and in this use of the apparatus one of the signs is provided with the word Left as shown in Figs. 6 and 7,

while another of the signs is provided onits opposite faces with the word Right, and

still another with the word Stop, but as above suggested it is understood that the 5 nature of the indicated media will be changed in accordance with the uses of the apparatus.

As clearly shown in Figs. 4: and 5, the opposite walls, that is the front and rear walls of the casing 2, may be provided with windows 7 and 8, the latter, if desired,'being so formed as to serveinstead of the usual tail light of an automobile so that when the electric light 5 is energized its rays will be utilized at night for the source of light for the tail light or lens 8, and at the same time this bulb will also furnishlight for illuminating the selected signal plates 3.

In their lowermost position in the casing 2 the several signal plates 3 are designed to rest upon cushions or stops 10 provided at the lower ends of their respective guides 1, and the signal members are preferably retracted to the concealed position by suitable automatic means as springs 11-11 having their upper ends connected to the lower portions of respective plates 3, and the lower ends of the springs being suitably connect-ed as to eye bolts 12 fastened in the bottom of the casing.

Various forms of means may be utilized for projecting the signal plates 3 at desired intervals and in suitable order to secure the display of the media thereon, and one form of such means comprises a lever 13 for each of the plates 3, these levers being mounted on a respective or common pivot 14 extending transversely across the casing 2, and one end of each lever is connected as by a pair of links 15 to the lower and intermedi ate portions of its respective plate 3 through which is passed a pin 16 on which the upper ends of the links 15 thereof are mounted. To the opposite end of the lever 13 there is, in the present form of the invention, connected a flexible draft device in the form of a cable or wire 17 passing down through the bottom of the casing as at 18, and in this case, through a flexible tube 19 or other guide in which the cable 17 is led to a remote point of control to be described herebelow, and there is a pulling or draft cable or wire 17 for each of the signal plates 3. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 one of the flexible cables or wires 17 is shown as extended, and connected to a lever 20 which may be either the usual clutch pedal of the automobile or the brake pedal so that when the lever 20 is slightly pressed forwardly as in the stopping of the car by the application of the brakes or by the disconnection of. the clutch this will exert a pull onthe cable or wire 17. This particular wire is connected to that one of the signal plates bearing the indication 65 Stop so that no other means need be utilized for actuating the stop signal plate than the brake lever or the clutch lever, the op eration of'which serves to set or to release or retract the stop signal according to the movement of its actuating lever 20.

The cables or pulling wires 17 of the signal plates Left and Right are "extended to a suitable location of the vehicle at which there is provided a pair of oppositely movable levers 21 and 22, these being pivotally mounted von a stud shaft or pivot 23, the outer ends of each of the levers being connected by any suitable means as links 2% to the contiguous ends of the cables or wires 17 The springs 11 previously referred to operate normally to retract the respective sig nal plates and thus draw the controlling wires or cables 17 and tend to bring the levers 21-22 to the position shown in Fig. 11 at which time these levers are approximate to the divergent ends of a setting device consisting of a V-shaped piece of metal 25 suitably fastened on a rocker shaft section 26 pivoted on the plate 27 that may be mounted at any convenient portion of the vehicle as for instance on the floor thereof adjacent the operators station.

The rocker shaft section 26 may be ofany suitable length and in this case it is shown as relatively short and provided at its upper end with a universal joint 28 to which is connected the lower end of an extension 29 of the rocker shaft section 26, this extension passing through the footboard 30 to which the plate 27 is attached and the shaft 29 is also shown as inclosed in a tube 31 fastened. as by bolts 32 to the upper surfaces of the foot board 30. .Mounted on the upper end of the fixed tube 31 is a semi-circular rack 33 having a series of notches 34 into which there is adapted to spring the outer end of a hand lever 25 bearing onthe track portion 33 of the segment33 and which hand lever is keyed or otherwise secured to the upper end of the rocker shaft 29.

The notches 3 1 which are shown as located at diametrically opposite sides of the rack 33 are not intended to lock the lever 25 positively, but rather to serve as index means to show that the hand lever 35 has been 115 thrown to the proper position, that is when thrown around to the right of the rack 33 the lever will enter a notch designated L meaning left and on the contrary when thrown to the left of the rack 33 will enter 120 the notch designated R indicating the selection of the Right signal plate according to the intention of the driver.

If the hand lever 35 be turned to the left hand notch of the rack 33 this will cause 125 the rotation of the shaft sections 26-29 in thedirection of the arrow a, Fig. 11, and the finger device 25 attached to the section 26 of the shaft will press against the lever 21 and swing this until a pawl 36 mounted 130 on a pivot pin 37 engages the adjacent end 25' of the finger device 25, whereupon the pawl 36 will interlock with the end of the finger and hold the same with the lever 21 in restrained position at which time, through means of the cable 17 of a respective signal plate 3, holds the latter in an elevated position.

Conversely another of the signal members will be elevated and held when the finger device 25 is so turned that its finger 25 will engage the lever 22 and throw the same to pull on its cable Or wire 17 and when the finger 25 is carried rearwardly sufiiciently it will engage and be interlocked with a respective hook 36 also pivoted on the pin 37. The restraining or locking hooks 36-36 are normally thrown forwardly to engage with the finger members by a suitable device, here shown as comprising a contractile spring 38 the opposite ends of which are passed around screws 39 which also serve to fasten links or end pieces 40 to the respective hooks 3636; although it is understood that the spring device 38 may be otherwise connected and mounted as is obvious.

The end pieces 40 form a part of a tripping means for concurrently pulling the locking pawls or hooks 3636 and thus releasing the selecting instrumentality including the fingers 25 and 25. This tripping action is secured automatically, in the present case, through the reciprocation in either direction of a rod or bar 41, Figs. 8, 11 and 12 representing here the usual cross connecting bar or rod of the front steering wheel mechanism, this rod being shifted to and fro with the turning of the usual steering wheel.

The end pieces 40 are shown as connected to a bight 42 of a cable or wire or otherwise appropriately connected to an eye 43 in this case forming a part of a turnbuckle 44 the other eye 45 of which is connected to a wire, rod or other suitable link 46 extending rearwardly and having its opposite end appropriately connected to a lever 47 pivoted at 48 on a suitable form of clamp, bracket or hanger 49 in this case mounted on the front axle 50 of the automobile.

The lever 47 is engaged on one side and between ends with the adjacent transverse shoulder or face of a tripper 51 pivoted at 52 on the face of the bracket 49 contiguous to the lever 47, and the outer end of the'tripper 51 is designed to be engaged by contiguous and spaced tappets here shown as collars 53 secured on the rod 41 on each side of the adjacent end of the tripper 51; which end may be turned down as at 51* to present an effective contact edge or face to the cooperative portion of the tappets 53.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided a series of display or signal members one of which is selective by the application of pressure to its control lever as 20 so that this signal member can be exhibited or retracted concurrently with the actuation of the control lever as in applying the brakes or disconnecting the clutch of an automobile. The signal device includes further other members selective to indicate the intended direction of turn of the vehicle, and these members are independently actuated by a proper turn of the setting lever 35 which results in making an operating connection between the selecting instrumentality as the fingers 25-25- with the levers 21-22 connected to the respective cables 17. Either of the setting levers 21 or 22 is adapted to be engaged by the respective restraining or locking pawls 3636', and these are concurrently tripped by the endwise movement of the steering connecting rod 41 irrespective of the direction of turn of the vehicle through the engagement of the tappets 53 with the adjacent end of the tripper 51.

From the above it will be seen that the operator having selected the sign indicating a turn to the right may turn in that direction and cause the automatic tripping of the locking device and the retraction of the sign as soon as the turn is well started. but in the event of having to turn or desiring to turn in the opposite direction the said signal member will be restored or retracted in the same manner as though the first intended turn had been started or made.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a sign displaying apparatus having a plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and. movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing. a source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof: a selecting mechanism for setting either of said sign members; common means for temporarily locking any of the selected members in display position and a common tripping means for disconnecting the locking means from a restrained member.

2. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a sign displaying apparatus having a plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing. a source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sic-n members for illuminating the faces thereof;

a selecting mechanism for setting either of said sign members; common means for temporarily locking any of the selected members in display position; a common tripping means for disconnecting the locking means from a restrained member; and cushions arranged within the housing and upon which said sign members are adapted to normally rest.

3. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a vehicle direction signal apparatus having a plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing a source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof; a main setting instrument; a series of operating connections for the said members selectively operable by the said instrument; a locking mechanism for the said instrument; which locking mechanism includes a pair of pivotally' mounted spring actuated detents that are adapted to engage movable parts of the setting instrument when said parts are shifted to move one of the signs into signaling position; and means connected to and actuated by movable parts of the vehicle with which the device is associated for tripping the locking mecha msm. V

4. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a vehicle direction signal apparatushaving a plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing a source of light and a reflector arrangedbeneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof; an automatic locking device; a main setting instrument; a series of operating connections for the said members selectively operable by the said instrument; alocking mechanism for the said instrument; which loclnng mechanism includes apair of pivotally mounted spring actuated detents that are adapted to engage movable parts of the setting instrument when said parts are shifted to move one of the signs into signaling position; and means for tripping the locking mechanism, said last named means including the cross-connecting rod of a steering gear of an automobile. V I

5. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a vehicle direction signal apparatus having a'plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing, a

source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof; a main setting instrument; a'series of operating connections for the said membersselectively operable by the said instrument; a locking mechanism for the said instrument; which locking mechanism includes a pair of pivotally mounted spring actuated detents that are adapted to engage movable parts of the setting instrument when said parts are shifted to move one of the signs into signaling position; and means actuated by movable parts of the vehicle with which the device is associated V for tripping the locking mechanism the said instrument having individual parts for re-' spective of the connections and cooperative therewith irrespective of the others.

6. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a vehicle direction signal apparatus having a plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing a source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof; a main setting instrument; a series of operating connections for the said members selectively operable by the said instrument; a locking mechanism for the said instrument; which locking mechanism includes a pair of pivotally mounted spring actuated detents that are adapted to engage movable-parts of the setting instru ment when said parts are shifted to move one of the signs into signaling position; and means connected to and actuated by movable parts of the vehicle with which the device is associated for tripping the locking mechanism, the saidlocking mechanism'coinprising independent parts for coordinate elements of the said instrument.

7. A housingthat is provided with a transparent top a vehicle direction signal apparatus having a plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing a source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof; a main setting instrument; a series of operating connections for the said members selectively operable by the said instrument; a locking mechanism for the said instrument; which locking mechanism in-' cludes a pair of pivotally mounted spring actuated detents that are adapted to engage movable parts of the setting instrument when said parts are shifted to move one of the signs into signaling position; and means connected to and actuated by movable parts of the vehicle with which the device is associated for tripping the locking mechanism, said tripping means having separate connec tions with respective independent parts of the locking mechanism.

8. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a sign displaying apparatus having a plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing, a source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof; a selecting mechanism for setting either of said members; common means for temporarily locking any of the selected members in display position; a common tripping means for disconnecting the locking means from a restrained member; the tripping means including a set of tappets attachable to the usual cross-connecting rod of a steering gear of a vehicle; and a double acting tripper engageable thereby when the tappets are shifted in either direction.

9. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a sign displaying apparatus havmg a plurality of sign members arrz nged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing, a source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof; a selecting mechanism for setting either of said members; common means for temporarily locking any of the selected members in display position; a common tripping means for disconnecting the locking means from a restrained member; the tripping means including a set of tappets attachable to the usual cross-connecting rod of a steering gear of a vehicle; and a double acting tripper engageable thereby when the tappets are shifted in either direction so as to release the set sign member irrespective of the direction of turn or" the vehicle.

10. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a sign displaying apparatus having a plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing, a source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof; a selecting mechanism for setting either of said members; common means for temporarily locking any of the selected members in display position; a common tripping means for disconnecting the locking means from a restrained member; and a restoring means common to a respective display member and the selecting mechanism.

11. A housing that is provided with a transparent top, a vehicle direction signal apparatus having a plurality of sign members arranged within said housing and movable through the transparent top thereof, a retractile spring connected to each sign member for resisting its outward movement and tending to return it to the housing, a source of light and a reflector arranged beneath said sign members for illuminating the faces thereof; a main setting instrument; a series of operating connections for the said members selectively operable by the said instrument; a locking mechanism for the said instrument; which locking mechanism includes a pair of pivotally mounted spring actuated detents that are adapted to engage movable parts of the setting instrument when said parts are shifted to move one of the signs into signaling position; and means for tripping the locking mechanism, said last named means including an element of a steering gear of an automobile.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RODNEY N. MoCLURE. 

